by CK Dawn
“—A state of affairs that hasn't disturbed me in the slightest.” Elaina replied.
“Now you’re just trying to hurt my feelings,” Tanith replied, waving his finger as if he were a parent disciplining a wayward child, though Elaina towered over him. “It is hard to believe you would rather spend your time with this fool than one of your own kind. It's absurd.”
“Who are you calling a fool?!” Marcus replied, reaching for his sword again.
Spotting the motion, Tanith cut him off. “Oh, do it—I dare you—draw your little sword. I could cut you down before you take a step. The Council wouldn't even censure me for it—attacking an Astarii will earn you a death sentence, you foolish child.”
“An Astarii?” Marcus asked, perplexed.
Elaina pushed Marcus back behind her and continued to impose herself between the newcomer and her companion. “As I said, Tanith, you are not welcome here—depart before I send word to the Council that you are interfering with my duties.”
“By all means, please do. I am here on their errand. I bear a message for you . . .” Tanith's countenance turned somber. “It concerns your duties and your recent actions. They have been noticed by the Five, and the Five are furious.”
Elaina's face fell as she realized that Tanith was not here on his own account.
Tanith continued: “After observing your interference and callous disregard for life, the Five have met to consider your fate. After discussing your actions at length they have.”
Elaina tensed. “What was their decision?”
Marcus could feel the energy gathering around her as she prepared herself. The hairs on his arms and neck stood up. Marcus was sure Tanith must be able to feel it, though the little man showed no indications of fear at the gathering power.
“What was their decision?” Elaina asked through gritted teeth.
“After careful deliberation, one was in favor of death, one of exile, and three of the Five felt that you should be warned before a more thorough punishment was applied. Consider this your warning. Should you neglect your duties again, or continue to place the life of this human over all others, you will feel the full weight of the Council's judgment upon you. Consider yourself warned.”
Without any further explanation Tanith raised his hands and executed an elaborate pattern in the air between them. The golden gateway appeared once more, and Tanith's face changed into an almost apologetic expression as he turned to Elaina. Unsure of what to say, the little man bowed deeply and departed as suddenly as he had arrived, leaving Marcus and Elaina alone in the gardens.
Marcus looked at Elaina. “Surely even where you are from,” he said, “that sort of thing warrants an explanation.”
Seven
Elaina looked from Marcus' expectant expression down to her feet and back to Marcus. “I don't know where to begin.”
“You could start with who that was, and where he came from.”
“Tanith is one of my people, the Astarii. We were once human like yourself but the Allfather, finding himself in need of servants to carry out his will, endowed us with great powers like those I manifested when I came to your aid in the alleyway. My people the Astarii serve as servants and messengers of the Allfather, carrying out his will across Creation.
“From among our ranks, the most gifted students are chosen and trained to serve as Guardians. It is a Guardian's solemn duty to watch over and protect their world. In doing so a Guardian is expected to gently guide those who inhabit their world in their obedience to the Allfather and his will. Above all we are expected to use our gifts to preserve the lives of the people we serve. Many Guardians are quiet observers, but I have found it difficult to watch silently as injustices are committed before me. I cannot bear to see innocents suffer. That is why I came to your aid in Greensbrook, and why I came to your aid again at the docks today.
“Unfortunately, when I came to your aid today, I violated my mandate. Tanith came here to warn me that my violation had not gone unnoticed by the Five.”
“Who are the Five? And how did you violate your mandate? You saved our lives. What was wrong with that?”
“In saving both your lives I had to kill six of those who sought to do you harm. In the arithmetic of the Astarii I should have let you perish to preserve the greatest number of lives. The Five are the Grand Council that govern the Astarii. Their will is second in importance only to that of the Allfather himself. They are beings of immense power and masters of the magics that are the Astarii birthright.”
“So these Five are upset because you killed a handful of criminals to save our lives? Does the quality of one's life mean nothing to you?”
“It means everything to me,” Elaina replied, hurt by the accusation. “Why do you think I did what I did? To take any life . . . it hurts my soul—but I couldn't watch you die. I have intervened to save lives before, but never at a cost of others. I didn't think anyone would ever know. It appears the gaze of the Five is more watchful than I had believed.”
“What will happen now?” Marcus asked.
“I don't know. I must tread carefully. The Five may have sent a warning this time but they will not do so again. As you heard from Tanith, already one of the Five is calling for my death. Another for exile. If I am found in defiance of their will again, those numbers will swiftly turn against me. I must tread carefully.”
“It's a good thing you are so light on your feet,” Marcus answered, to lighten the mood.
Elaina tried to smile. “I should leave. My actions have brought you into harm's way. I'm sorry, Marcus.”
Marcus raised both hands. “Wait just a minute, Elaina. It was just a warning, a sobering one perhaps, but if we know what will draw their ire, isn't it a simple matter to just not do so again?”
Elaina hesitated. Seeing he was making progress ,Marcus continued: “Stay with me. We are only just getting to know each other. I don't want to lose you.”
“I don't want to leave, Marcus, but you must understand—lives hang in the balance, and not just yours and mine. I am the Guardian of this world. While I am here playing lady of the courts there are others whose lives might be saved if I were but doing my duty.”
“That might be so, Elaina, but what about your life? With all you do watching over others, when do you take time for yourself? When was the last time you danced or took a moment for yourself?”
Elaina struggled to answer. It was not that she didn't already know the answer, but because she didn't want to say it aloud.
Marcus waited, unwilling to break the silence that had descended upon the gardens. Elaina fidgeted nervously. He was still waiting for an answer she gave it: “I've never spent a night dancing, Marcus. Don't get me wrong, I have time to myself, but it's the only kind of time I have. I live alone, I eat alone. Quite frankly, Marcus, I'm tired of being alone.”
“Then stop, Elaina. It's your life. Your choice. You must choose the life you wish to live.”
“It's not that simple.”
“It can be,” Marcus replied, taking her hand. “Stay with me. Not here in the Palace. Come home to Listarii—you will love it there. It's quiet, surrounded by the woods and the ocean. It's beautiful.”
“I can't—I really must go.” Elaina pulled her hand free, but she couldn't fight the tears back any longer and the first rolled down her cheek. Now that she had experienced the thrill of companionship, the thought of going back to her life of solitude stung all the more. She was torn between wanting to throw her arms around Marcus and bury her head in his shoulder and wanting to disappear entirely so that he would not see her cry.
In her moment of fear Elaina chose the latter. Shedding her human form, she became one with the wind.
As Elaina disappeared before his eyes, Marcus’s heart sank. “Elaina, don't go!” he cried out in futility. “I love you . . .”
The words had slipped out before he could stop them.
Faint as they might have been, Elaina heard his words and stopped, her incorporeal form float
ing over him, as the words cut through the little resolve she had managed to muster.
Marcus stood alone in the courtyard, helpless.
“What did you say to me?” came a voice in the wind, and Marcus whirled around. Elaina stood behind him, having resumed her womanly form, a tear running slowly down her cheek.
“What did you say to me?” Elaina asked again.
“I said I love you,” Marcus admitted. “From the moment I first saw you I knew.” He moved toward her.
This time Elaina didn't flee.
Marcus drew her in with one hand around her waist and the other caressing her cheek, and he kissed her tenderly.
Elaina's heart fluttered as a wave rolled over her, unlike anything she had ever felt before.
“I'm sorry to interrupt this moment, but I must borrow Marcus for a moment.” The voice belonged to Lord Alford of the Tanamere, who stood quietly watching the scene before him.
Elaina reluctantly stepped back from the embrace, but Marcus caught her by the hand. “It's fine—stay.” Addressing Alford, he continued: “Elaina isn't one for court gossip, Alford. What is it you need?”
“I'm afraid we'll need to leave the feast early, Marcus.”
“Why? What's happened?”
“I've just received word of a slave fleet working its way along the northern coast. They have already ransacked three towns, and hundreds of our people have been killed or taken against their will. With the Lord of the Sisaron here in King's Court for the Tournament, our people are in danger.”
“What do you want me to do?” Marcus asked.
“The Pride is waiting for me in the harbor. I will lead our navies around the western coast to head them off before they can reach the Tanamere. If they are smart they will be working their way east anyway, away from our navy. If they are foolish and moving east, Listarii lies in their path. Your people are at risk, Marcus. Take the swiftest horse you can find and make for Listarii at once. If they come ashore they will have sufficient numbers to threaten the Manor itself. Without your leadership your people are in grave danger. Make your way home at once and ready the defenses.”
“How large a fleet are we talking about?” Marcus asked.
“Our intelligence is sparse, as they have left few survivors in their wake. But if the fleet is large enough to sack three towns, you can expect over a dozen ships. Perhaps a thousand men, maybe more.”
“A thousand men?” Marcus cried, incredulous. Valaar had always been afflicted by slavers from Khashish who worked their despicable trade across the entirety of the Boundless Sea. Most of the raids were driven off by the Tanamere and their considerable navy, but on occasion they were able to wreak havoc on the unsuspecting Valaaran people. The slavers had picked an opportune time to strike. With most of Valaar's ruling families in King's Court for the Tournament, much of the land had been left sparsely defended.
“At least a thousand—hence the urgency. Do not dally, Marcus—your people's lives hang in the balance. Go—I'll rally the fleet and bring you aid as swiftly as I can muster it.”
“Very well,” Marcus answered. Looking to Elaina he added, “Will you come with me?”
“There is nowhere I would rather be.”
“The battlefield is no place for a lady,” Alford interjected.
“Your concern is admirable but unnecessary, Lord Alford,” Elaina replied. “Travel swiftly—I'm sure the winds will be with you.”
Lord Alford's looked confused, but Marcus didn't stay to explain. Grabbing Elaina by the hand, he hurriedly made his way out of the gardens and into the Palace.
Eight
The journey to Listarii Manor was made in haste—at Marcus’s insistence his mother had remained in King's Court against the possibility that the Manor could fall. Amarisa had been resistant but Marcus had insisted: “If the Manor falls, one of us must remain to lead our people. You might have mastered the intrigues of the court, Mother, but the art of war was always father's domain. His education in that regard was most thorough. Leave the Manor to me, stay here in the capital and rally support and aid for our people. I will head home and lead the defense of our people.”
“Very well,” Amarisa conceded, embracing her son. “Go and ready the horses—I would speak with Elaina before you leave.”
Marcus wanted to linger but did as he was instructed, recognizing the authority of the matriarch of the Listarii. He obediently departed to prepare the horses.
Once Marcus had departed the room, Amarisa bore down on Elaina, raising her finger as if scolding a wayward child. “Keep my son safe.”
“It is not that easy, Amarisa. I have already been censured for my actions today.”
“Do you love him?” Amarisa demanded.
“Yes.”
“Then it is exactly that easy. You have the power to save him from harm and you must do it. Trust me when I tell you—that warmth that swells within your heart each time you see him, the joy you feel whenever you are around him—if you lose him it will vanish and you will never be the same again. The hole it leaves in your heart will stay with you for the remainder of your life. I would give anything to have his father back.” She paused, continuing more softly: “Do not squander your life and your love—your regret and subsequent misery will last far longer than any censure. Do you understand me?”
“I do,” Elaina replied.
Amarisa embraced her. “Then go. May the Allfather watch over you as you watch over my son.”
Marcus and Elaina made their way home to Listarii Manor at breakneck pace, spending the night in Belnair only to rest and refresh their steeds.
Drawing near to the Manor, Marcus was surprised to find citizens thronging the open gates. Marcus reigned in and spotted Weapons Master Balan in the yard. Balan served as the Drill Master for the militia and was military adviser to the Lady of the House.
Judging by the commotion, Balan had been warned of the impending threat and was mustering the Manor's forces. A steady stream of men made their way into the armory, and as they entered they would put aside their tools and trades, to take up arms in defense of their home. Each would in turn emerge with a spear or sword, and in the other hand bore a shield with the Eastern Star of the Listarii rising over the ocean. Others in the courtyard were stringing bows and fletching arrows. Balan moved through the masses barking orders for the Manor's defense.
Marcus dismounted and Elaina followed his lead, together they pressed their way through the crowd until he reached the Weapons Master. “Balan, it seems you have heard the news.”
“Not heard, Marcus. I saw it with my own eyes. I was fishing on the northern shores when I saw the sails. They were riding too high in the water to be pirates or merchantmen, and in these parts that can only mean slavers. Judging by the size of the armada they have higher ambitions then a few coastal raids. I figure they are bound for us. They could hit the Manor and flee for Khashish—by the time word reached the Tanamere they would be out to open water and impossible to track.” Seeing Elaina beside Marcus Balan continued, “Who is your friend Tristan?”
Tristan glanced at Elaina, embarrassed at the oversight on his part. “My apologies, Elaina this is Balan, Drill Master of Listarii Manor, Balan this is Elaina.”
“A pleasure, milady,” Balan affected a short bow before continuing, “What word has reached the capital?”
“Not a lot Balan, we know they were foolish enough to hit the Sisaron first, so word has already reached the Tanamere. Fortunately, Alford was in King's Court for the Tournament, unfortunately he has taking his fleets west, via the Tanameran coast to ensure the slavers do not strike there.”
“One can hardly blame him for protecting his people first,” Balan mused. “But it is rotten news for us. The slavers are bearing down as we speak and help will not reach us in time.”
“You've seen our foe, Balan—will the Manor hold?”
“It's hard to say. Slavers seldom come equipped for a siege. While we have few full-time soldiers, our militia is considera
ble and our walls sound—so chances are high we can hold out until help arrives. On the other hand, I spotted over a dozen ships before I fled to raise the alarm—there is no way of knowing if there are others. If there are many more we may be overwhelmed.”
“We must know their strength and their intentions, Balan. Where do you think they will come ashore?”
“They were sailing along the northern coast when I saw them, but they made no signs of coming ashore. If I had to guess, I would say the Eastern Coast—the beaches make for an easier landing and it is the closest point to the Manor. They would count on a swifter assault and a quick retreat should the need arise.”
“Well, then, that is where I am heading,” Marcus announced. “I will scout their forces. We need a better idea of their strength if we are to organize our defenses.”
“It's madness, Marcus—if you are caught you will spend the rest of your life in the slave pits. Your mother would never allow it.”
“Fortunately,” Marcus replied, “Mother is in King's Court, and she set me in charge of preparing our defense. I cannot do so until I know what we are facing. Stay here and organize the militia. Once our people are inside, fashion a timber work in front of the gate. An improvised ram will be their preferred method of breaching the Manor gate. If they are foolish enough to try to scale the walls they will suffer terrible casualties. They will wish to strike quickly since time is not on their side. If we can hold out for long enough, Alford will arrive by sea and we will be spared.”
“It's a terrible risk, Marcus.”
“—But one that must be taken all the same. There is too much at stake.”
“Very well. God speed, m'boy. Do not dally—get their number and return swiftly. If you are seen, ride like hell.”
“Sound counsel as always, Balan,” Marcus chuckled as he made his way back to his horse.